New Mexico nuke repository studied for plutonium storage CARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Energy has commissioned a national group of scientists to study the viability of diluting surplus weapons-grade plutonium and storing it permanently at the federal government’s underground repository in New Mexico. The panel of about 15 scientists from universities, corporations and laboratories around the nation …

Mining to resume at WIPP for 1st time since leak ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Officials at the nation’s only underground nuclear waste repository are flipping the switch on an interim ventilation system this week, allowing mining to resume for the first time since a 2014 radiation release contaminated part of the facility. Still, they caution it will take a few …